New cars sold in Europe in 2015 will have to have 18 percent less CO2 emissions than their equivalents today.
That's the ruling passed by the EU today, which also agreed on a three year phase in for the programme because of cost worries expressed by the carmakers.
They will now be required to reduce average CO2 emissions to 130 grams per kilometre between 2012 and 2015.
The ruling means that 65 percent of Europe's new-car fleet must meet the target in 2012. By 2013, three out of every four must have achieved the target.
Targets will be based on the weights of cars, and these range from 122g/km for Fiat and 137g/km for BMW and Daimler.
